Vain Fortune eBook

’She’ll be correct enough; she’ll
miss nothing, and yet somehow she’ll miss the
whole thing. But you must go at once to Ford.
He was saying only this morning that if you didn’t
turn up soon, he’d have to give up the idea.’

‘I can’t go and see him to-night.
You see what a state I’m in.’

‘You’re rather dusty; where have you been?
what have you been doing?’

‘I’ve been down at the dock.... I
thought of going to America.’

’Well, we’ll talk about that another time.
It doesn’t matter if you are a bit dusty and
worn-out-looking. Now that he’s going to
revive your play, he’ll let you have some money.
You might get a new hat, though. I don’t
know how much they cost, but I’ve five shillings;
can you get one for that?’

Hubert thanked her.

‘But you are not offended?’

’Offended, my dear Rose! I shall be able
to manage. I’ll get a brush up somewhere.’

’That’s all right. Now I’m
going to jump into that ‘bus,’ and she
signed with her parasol to the conductor. ‘Mind
you see Ford to-night,’ she cried; and a moment
after he saw a small space of blue back seated against
one of the windows.

V

There was much prophecy abroad. Stiggins’
words, ’The piece never did, and never will
draw money,’ were evidently present in everybody’s
mind. They were visible in Ford’s face,
and more than once Hubert expected to hear that—­on
account of severe indisposition—­Mr. Montague
Ford has been obliged to indefinitely postpone his
contemplated revival of Mr. Hubert Price’s play
Divorce. But, besides the apprehension
that Stiggins’ unfavourable opinion of his enterprise
had engendered in him, Ford was obviously provoked
by Hubert’s reluctance to execute the alterations
he had suggested. Night after night, sometimes
until six in the morning, Hubert sat up considering
them. Thanks to Ford’s timely advance he
was back in his old rooms in Fitzroy Street.
All was as it had been. He was working at his
play every evening, waiting for Rose’s footsteps
on the stairs. And yet a change had come into
his life! He believed now that his feet were set
on the way to fortune—­that he would soon
be happy.

He stared at the bright flame of the lamp, he listened
to the silence. The clock chimed sharply, and
the windows were growing grey. Hubert had begun
to drowse in his chair; but he had promised to rewrite
the young girl’s part, Ford having definitely
refused to intrust Rose with the part of the adventuress.
He was sorry for this. He believed that Rose had
not only talent, but genius. Besides, they were
friends, neighbours; he would like to give her a chance
of distinguishing herself—­the chance which
she was seeking. All the time he could not but
realise that, however he might accentuate and characterise
the part of the sentimental girl, Rose would not be
able to do much with it. To bring out her special
powers something strange, wild, or tragic was required.
But of what use thinking of what was not to be?
Having made some alterations and additions he folded
his papers up, and addressed them to Miss Massey.
He wrote on a piece of paper that they were to be
given to her at once, and that he was to be called
at ten. There was a rehearsal at twelve.